OPENING IN SEPTEMBER 2026

Fortismere's Autism ARP: Excellence in Inclusive Education

At Fortismere, we celebrate diversity and belonging where every individual is valued and included. Our Autism Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP), opening in September 2026, represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all students can thrive within our inclusive, high-achieving community.

The Autism ARP is a key part of our expanding specialist provision and demonstrates our strategic vision for inclusive education. Alongside FINCH, our alternative provision, the ARP ensures that Fortismere offers a comprehensive range of support for students with additional needs, enabling them to access our ambitious curriculum and achieve excellent outcomes.

Why an Autism ARP at Fortismere?

Our inclusive education provision already ensures that students with SEND consistently outperform all students nationally, and the Autism ARP will strengthen this further by providing specialist support for students with autism who would benefit from a combination of mainstream and specialist teaching.

Our strategic priority is to embed our expanded inclusive provision, and the Autism ARP is central to this goal. By 2030, our inclusive provision (including ARP and FINCH) will be fully embedded and exemplary, positioning Fortismere as a leader in inclusive mainstream education.

Our Vision for our Autism ARP

The Autism ARP will provide:

• A specialist base within Fortismere where students can access tailored support, sensory regulation, and structured interventions
• Dual registration allowing students to benefit from both mainstream lessons and specialist teaching, ensuring they remain part of the wider Fortismere community
• An ambitious curriculum designed, delivered and adapted to ensure that all our students become curious and critical thinkers who achieve excellent outcomes
• Strong relationships built on kindness, trust, respect and empathy, with staff trained in autism-specific pedagogy and communication strategies
• Preparation for the future fostering independence, confidence, and a sense of social responsibility within the school, the local community and beyond

Our Inclusive Approach

Students in the Autism ARP will:

• Access mainstream lessons where appropriate, supported by specialist staff and adaptive teaching strategies
• Have a personalised timetable that balances mainstream inclusion with specialist intervention
• Benefit from a sensory-friendly base designed to support regulation and wellbeing
• Receive targeted support for communication, social interaction, and executive functioning
• Be fully included in Fortismere's enrichment, personal development, and pastoral programmes
• Have their progress tracked using academic and pastoral data, with case studies demonstrating the impact of teaching and targeted interventions

We use the graduated approach and ensure that all staff employ universal strategies to support students with autism across the school. 

Our Values in Action

The Autism ARP embodies Fortismere's values:

We are ambitious for every child: Students in the ARP will access the same high-quality, creative curriculum as their peers, with adaptations to ensure success.

We celebrate diversity and belonging: The ARP is not separate; it is an integral part of Fortismere, ensuring every student feels they belong in an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and supports all to thrive.

We encourage curiosity and creativity: Our ambitious curriculum inspires a love of learning and the confidence to think boldly, with teaching approaches tailored to the learning profiles of autistic students.

We build relationships on kindness and trust: Strong relationships and a culture of mutual respect foster collaboration, empathy, and independence, with staff trained to understand and respond to the needs of autistic learners.

We prepare our students for their futures: Students will leave the ARP equipped with the skills, confidence, and qualifications to progress to appropriate next-stage destinations, whether further education, employment, or training.

Our Commitment to Excellence

Fortismere's Autism ARP will be fully embedded and exemplary, ensuring that students with autism achieve excellent outcomes and are prepared to thrive in their futures as articulate, confident and socially responsible individuals. We are a community of learners, and we prioritise our growth as educators, continuously improving our practice to better serve our students.

By opening the Autism ARP in September 2026, Fortismere is reaffirming its commitment to being a truly inclusive school where every student feels they belong, every individual is valued, and all students achieve excellent outcomes regardless of background or starting point.

Contact Us

For more information about the Autism ARP, including admissions and referrals, please contact:

SENCo	Mr Nofer Fari
Email	nfari@fortismere.org.uk
Tel	0208 365 4400